Bulbs for Central Texas

Growing Bulbs in Central Texas

Growing bulbs in Central Texas, or anywhere in the south, can be challenging. Most traditional bulbs, especially tulips, require a winter chill period. Wide fluctuations in spring weather also impact bloom quality. The blossoms of spring flowering bulbs are not equipped to handle daytime temperatures in the 80’s or 90’s, and can quickly fade in the heat. But gardening in the south has advantages, we are lucky that there are spectacular summer and fall flowering bulbs that can’t be grown in the north.

What is a bulb?

The term “bulb” is used to describe flowers and vegetables that have some sort of food storage mechanism in their stems or roots. “Bulb” can encompass true bulbs, rhizomes, tubers, corms, and tuberous roots.

Candy Stripe Crinum flower, a recommended bulb for Central Texas

Crinum lily ‘Candy Stripe’

Recommendations for Travis County

This list of bulbs for Central Texas is based on recommendations from Travis County Master Gardeners Betty Dunn and Yvonne Schneider. Some of these are heirloom varieties which may be hard to find unless ordered online.

Bulb Grouping Common
Name		 Latin Name Flowering
Height		 Sun
Exposure		 Flower Color Notes
Daffodil Erlicheer Narcissus ‘Erlicheer’ 12-14 in Partial shade White double cluster flowered
Daffodil W P Milner Narcissus ‘W.P. Milner’ 12 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Cream miniature cream trumpet
Daffodil Early Louisiana Narcissus jonquilla subsp. jonquilla ‘Early Louisiana’ 10 in Full sun Yellow
Daffodil Intrigue Narcissus jonquilla ‘Intrigue’ 8-12 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Yellow better than ‘Pippit’
Daffodil Saint Kaverne Narcissus jonquilla ‘Saint Kaverne’ 16-18 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Yellow good fragrance and slightly larger than ‘Sweetness’
Daffodil Sweetness Narcissus jonquilla ‘Sweetness’ 16-18 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Yellow best fragrance
Daffodil Trevethian Narcissus jonquilla ‘Trevethian’ 12-24 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Soft yellow good fragrance
Daffodil Paperwhites Narcissus papyraceus 12-14 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 White mostly used for forcing indoors
Daffodil Avalanche Narcissus tazetta ‘Avalanche’ 12-24 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 White with yellow cups
Daffodil Avalanche of Gold Narcissus tazetta ‘Avalanche of Gold’ 12-24 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Yellow
Daffodil Early Pearl Narcissus tazetta ‘Early Pearl’ 14-16 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 White
Daffodil Golden Dawn Narcissus tazetta ‘Golden Dawn’ 8-10 in Full sun Yellow with gold cups
Daffodil Grand Primo Narcissus tazetta ‘Grand Primo’ 12-14 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 White
Daffodil Thalia Narcissus triandrus ‘Thalia’ 12-18 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 White
Ipheon Jessie Starflower Ipheion uniflorum ‘Jessie’ 3-6 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Deep violet blue
Ipheon Rolf Fiedler
Starflower		 Ipheion uniflorum ‘Rolf Fiedler’ 3-6 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Deep blue
Ipheon Starflower Ipheion uniflorum 3-6 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Pale blue
Ipheon Wisley Blue
Starflower		 Ipheion uniflorum ‘Wisley Blue’ 3-6 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Deeper blue than
species
Lily Agapanthus,
Lily of the Nile		 Agapanthus africanus 18-24 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Blue or white evergreen strappy foliage, prefers some afternoon shade
Lily Canna Lily Canna indica 18-72 in Full Sun Various spread by rhizomes so best in containers or contained areas; prefer moisture for best blooms. Many species and hybrid varieties
Lily Crinum Lilies Crinum americanum,
Crinum hybrids		 12-36 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Mostly white, some pink to red hybrids prefer moist soils but drought tolerant once established
Lily Hardy Amaryllis ‘Johnsonii’ Hippeastrum x johnsonii 10-24 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Red to white striped other Dutch hybrids work in pots and to a lesser extent in semi-shade with protection from north wind
Lily Red-hot Poker Khiphofia uvaria 24-48 in Full sun Top flowers red to orange; lower flowers yellow new hybrids offer single color varieties, prefers dry areas, drought tolerant
Lily Spider Lily Lycoris radiata 12-16 in Partial Shade Red fall bloomer
Lily Naked Ladies Lycoris squamigera 24 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Pink to purple late summer to fall bloomer. Needs some chill and may not bloom after a mild winter.
Lily Oxblood or Schoolhouse Lily Rhodophiala bifida 10-16 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Red fall bloomer
Lily Society Garlic Tulbaghia violacea 12-24 in Full Sun Lilac to pink variegated variety prefers some afternoon shade, pink variety can be used as a bog plant
Lily Rain Lily Zephyranthes candida, 
Zephyranthes labufarrosa		 6-10 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 White to pink sporadic bloomer that prefers moist soils, blooms after a rain starting in mid spring
Lily Spider Lily Lycoris radiata 12-16 in Partial shade Red fall bloomer
Oxalis White Oxalis Oxalis alba 4-8 in Partial shade Pink
Oxalis Rosea Oxalis Oxalis crassipes 4-8 in Partial shade Pink
Tulip Lady Jane Tulipa clusiana ‘Lady Jane’ 6-12 in Full sun Pink and white species tulip with similar characteristics as ‘Lady Jane’
Tulip Golden Tulip Tulipa clusiana var. chrysantha 6-12 in Full sun Butter yellow and pink
'Secret Rites' Bearded Iris

Bearded Iris ‘Secret Rites’

These minor bulbs, corms, and rhizomes will do well in pots. Treat them as annuals.

Bulb Grouping Common
Name		 Latin Name Flowering
Height		 Sun
Exposure		 Flower Color Notes
Allium Drummund Onion Allium drummundii 10 in Full sun White Reseeds aggressively. TX native
Allium Rosy Garlic Allium roseum ‘Grandiflorum’ 10 in Full sun Pink Reseeds aggressively
Anemone Poppy Anemone Anemone coronaria 10-24 in Full sun, Partial shade Various Good in pots
Freesia Freesia Freesia laxa,
Fressia grandiflora,
Freesia x hybrids		 12-18 in Full sun, Partial shade Various various colors some single, some double – sun while growing; good in pots; Freesia Laxa soft pinkish red or white (formerly known as Lapeirousia Cruenta) – sun while growing reseeds & will grow from seed in fall to bloom in March; great in pots
Gladiolus Byzantine
gladiolus		 Gladiolus communis
var. byzantinus		 12-24 in Full sun Purple-magenta to copper-red Full sun to light shade.
Iris Crocosmia ‘George Davidson’ Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘George Davidson’ 16-24 in Full sun, Partial shade Butter yellow
Iris Zigzag Louisiana Iris Iris brevicaulis 12-24 in Full sun, Partial shade Various prefers moist soil
Iris Blackberry Lily Iris domestica 24-36 in Full sun, Partial shade Orange pale orange w speckles, has shiny black seeds
Iris Copper Iris Iris fulva 12-36 in Full sun, Partial shade Yellow to red prefers moist soil
Iris Bearded Iris Iris germanica 24-36 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Various
Iris Giant Blue Flag Louisiana Iris Iris giganticaerulea 36-60 in Full sun, Partial shade Blue prefers moist soil
Iris Dixie or Carolina Iris Iris hexagona 36-48 in Full sun, Partial shade Blue to lavender prefers moist soil
Iris Nelson’s Water Iris Louisiana Iris Iris nelsonii 36-48 in Full sun, Partial shade Red to lavender prefers moist soil
Iris Juno Iris Iris subg. Scorpiris 10 in Full sun, Partial shade Various small plants
Iris Dutch Iris Iris hollandica 18-24 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Various
Muscari Grape Hyacinth
‘Blue Bottles’		 Muscari neglectum ‘Blue Bottles’ 6-10 in Full sun Deep blue mostly full sun, likes moisture
Muscari Grape Hyacinth
‘Dark Eyes’		 Muscari neglectum ‘Dark Eyes’ 4-6 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Deep blue mostly full sun, likes moisture, prefers afternoon shade
Muscari Grape Hyacinth
‘Valerie Finnis’		 Muscari neglectum ‘Valerie Finnis’ 6-8 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Pale blue mostly full sun, likes moisture
Ranunculus Ranunculus Ranunculus 12-24 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Various Good in pots
Scilla Spanish Blue Bell ‘Excelsior’ Hyacinthoides hispanica ‘Excelsior’ 12-24 in Full sun, Partial shade Purple blue a stronger grower than the white or pink, dappled shade then full shade while dormant; good in pots
Scilla Portuguese squill Scilla peruviana 6-12 in Full sun,
Partial shade		 Blue to purple needs afternoon shade

Other Bulb and Flower Resources

Best Bulbs for the South

The Bulb Hunter in the AgriLife bookstore

Annual and Perennial Flowers home page

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